TCDSS 10

Chapter 10

Clink… clink…

The dining room echoed only with the faint sounds of cutlery. At the table, filled with a large roasted turkey, steak, various salads, and grilled vegetables, three people sat together.

Sasha kept her gaze lowered toward the middle of the table, watching the two across from her as she repeatedly cut her steak and brought it to her mouth.

‘Oh my, Sasha. How have you been? Are you doing well here?’

She had expected something like that—words of concern, checking on her well-being.

Words she had rarely heard before, making it hard even to imagine them in detail.

But since their arrival, the only things they had said were, well… just those two types of responses.

She was managing to maintain elegance, having learned from Rosé, but her heart was slowly sinking—as if it were descending to the very bottom of a lake.

“Was your journey here difficult?”

Even so, she gathered her courage and spoke. She felt she had to keep the conversation going to learn anything at all.

At her voice, the Marchioness of Ivern paused as if startled, pressing her lips together before replying without even lifting her head.

“No. It wasn’t difficult.”

Of course it wouldn’t have been. It may have taken time to travel, but the duke’s household had sent their finest carriage.

Then why did it sound more like she didn’t want to come rather than it wasn’t difficult?

“It’s a shame Father couldn’t come as well.”

“You think so?”

The Marquess of Ivern hadn’t come today. The Marchioness had said something came up, but the excuse was so obvious it drained Sasha’s energy.

Before Sasha could even finish speaking, Elina cut in sharply from the side.

“Elina.”

The Marchioness stopped her with just a soft call of her name, but Elina’s intense glare remained fixed on Sasha.

Elina Ivern, whom the maids had gossiped about endlessly, was indeed dazzlingly beautiful. Though they both had blonde hair, Elina’s shone more brilliantly; her skin was smoother, her features more defined.

A girl made for luxurious dresses—a beauty renowned throughout the empire.

But the gaze she directed at her older sister held nothing but hostility.

“Yes, it can’t be helped… Would you like dessert now?”

Seeing that neither of them had properly touched the lavish meal, Sasha gently offered dessert.

“Very well,” the Marchioness replied haughtily.

Sasha called for Rosé, and dessert was soon served. But the atmosphere did not improve.

Sasha scooped some ice cream into her mouth, chewing slowly. Something heavy pressed against her chest, making it feel as though she might choke if she swallowed carelessly.

The Marchioness barely touched her dessert, while Elina finished hers with visible irritation.

Suppressing a sigh, Sasha raised her hand again and called Rosé.

“Yes, Lady Sasha. I will escort you to the garden.”

“Thank you, Rosé. Let’s have some tea in the garden.”

Rosé immediately understood her intention and took the lead. Sasha stood, and the other two followed without a word.

It was unbearably uncomfortable.

On the way to the garden, Sasha noticed the reception room doors wide open. Though Kyler didn’t favor excessive decoration in his own quarters, this room seemed to preserve the family’s tradition—lavish and filled with luxurious furnishings.

As they walked, the Marchioness’s eyes darted about, sharply examining every decoration, just as she had in the grand lobby earlier.

The garden was no different.

The Marchioness inspected the tea set piece by piece, pretending to sip occasionally, while young Elina made no effort to hide her hostility.

“Is the tea alright? Oh, Elina, your cup is already empty. I’ll pour you some more.”

“No.”

“Have a little more. The cakes are delicious, so feel free—”

“I said no!”

Clatter!

“Aah!”

As Sasha tried to pour more tea herself, Elina suddenly shoved her hand away. Caught off guard, Sasha dropped the teapot.

Elina screamed, but the tilted teapot spilled toward Sasha. A few drops splashed onto Elina’s sleeve.

“It’s hot! It got on my dress! What if it stains?!”

A maid rushed over, dabbing at Elina’s sleeve, though barely any tea had spilled.

Sasha quietly stood.

“Connie, please clean this up. Excuse me for a moment.”

Her layered dress was unharmed, but the back of her hand stung slightly.

Leaving Connie behind, Sasha turned and walked away, her jaw trembling faintly as she bit the inside of her lip.

After changing into a dry dress with Rosé’s help, Sasha walked back toward the garden, her expression completely blank.

“Lady Sasha… are you alright?”

Rosé finally asked cautiously.

“…I’m fine.”

It was all Sasha could manage, her voice short and controlled, as she continued down the corridor.

“Hey! You’ve got some nerve!”

A sharp voice stopped her.

Elina approached from the side of the corridor, as if she had been waiting.

“How dare you invite us here? What, trying to get revenge?”

Her eyes burned with hostility.

“You think I don’t know you stole my place?”

Sasha’s eyebrow twitched.

Elina’s place?

“Ask anyone—no one even knows you exist! The daughter of the Ivern house is me!”

“…What?”

That made no sense. Even objectively, Sasha was beautiful. If Elina was known for her looks, there was no reason Sasha would be completely unknown.

“You were hidden away in the attic like some gloomy thing! And now the Duke proposed to you? Tell me—how did you seduce him?!”

At first, Sasha had worried that perhaps she had wronged Elina somehow.

But now—

That thought vanished completely.

The knot in her chest loosened.

I was wrong.

This isn’t what family is supposed to be.

Something snapped.

“Funny. Stole what, exactly?”

Sasha’s voice turned cold.

“Do you think the Duke of Ignote is someone you can just ‘steal’? You clearly know nothing about him.”

Elina froze.

“You’re supposed to be the empire’s great beauty, right? Then you’d better maintain that image. Don’t become the villain who ruined her sister’s marriage.”

With that, Sasha stepped past her.

Back in the garden, Elina stormed in behind her, breathing heavily.

The Marchioness immediately sensed what had happened and glared sharply at Sasha.

Of course—she wasn’t on Sasha’s side either.

Sasha remained standing, looking down at both of them.

“Thank you for making the trip. This was the Duke’s final courtesy. You will not be invited here again. Please take care on your way back. Rosé.”

“Yes, my lady.”

She gave them no chance to respond.

“Mother, let’s go!”

Elina stomped off.

The Marchioness approached Sasha, lifting her chin arrogantly.

“How dare you treat your mother this way—”

“You’ve treated your daughter poorly all this time, Marchioness.”

The Marchioness frowned deeply.

“Goodbye.”

Sasha remained perfectly composed, her expression unwavering as she saw them off.